Tuyere fire pot



'A J. JOHNSON July 9, 1-935.

TUYERE FIRE POT Filed Sept. 14, 1932 lNvENToR gym d ORNEYS Patented July 9, 1935 TUYERE FIRE Po'r Allen J. .'lolmson,l Lansdowne, Pa., assigner to Anthracite Equipment Corporation, a corporaon of Delaware Application September 14, 1932, Serial No. 633,051 l9 Claims. (cl. 11o- 45) This invention pertains generally to furnace fire pots and particularly to furnace fire pots of the tuyre type.

The invention pertains more particularly to a tuyre fire pot in which the combustion vsupporting gas is controlled in zones which are superimposed from the bottom to the top of the fuel bed and which perferably run circumferentially of the fuel bed.

Among the advantages afforded are (1) Wide flexibility in the rate of combustion comparable to that of anoil burner; (2) the ability to carry a Very low re when desired; (3) a more uniform fuel bed; (4) the ability to burn small mounts of fuel at a relatively high temperature to avoid the formation of clinkers, 'particularly when burning anthracite; (5) a control of the volume of air supplied to each layer of fuel in the pot to permit a high rate'of combustion without undue blowing of ash at the top of the fuel bed. l

Other features of the invention reside in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, which together with further features will become apparent to persons skilled in the art asv the specification proceeds, and upon reference to the drawing in which:

Figure ,1 is an elevation of a fire pot illustrating the invention;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1, with the perforated fuel support removed;

Figure l4 is a section on line 4 4 of Figure 3.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing for the purposes of illustration, I0 is a fire pot designed more particularly to meet the requirements of domestic use of anthracite. I t is to be understood, however, that the invention is not Vlimited thereto and that it is adapted for commercial and other uses.

The fire pot I0 disclosed in the drawing is of the underfed Stoker type, the grate being shown at II with a lower opening at I2 to receive fuel supplied by stoker mechanism illustrated conventionally at I3.

The grate II may be of any shape and construction to meet requirements, Grate II as illustrated is shaped somewhat like a morningglory and is provided with a. plurality of perforations I4 to permit the flow of air to the fuel bed.

The tuyre air chamber shown extends circumferentially of the grate II and is divided into a plurality of zones beneath` along the grate Il from the bottom to the top thereof. The zones may be of any number, depending upon the uses to which the re pot is to be put, the character of control desired, etc.

Three zones to wit: I6, I1 and I8 are shown in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawing. Zones I6, I1 and I8 may be conveniently formed as follows: A bottom wall I9, beginning from the flange 20, slopes upwardly as illustrated at 2l until it reaches the radius 22, whereupon it becomes fiat and Aextends around the opening I2, partially overlapping itself, and ending. at the radius 23, thus leaving openings 24, 25 and 26 for the ingress of air tol zones I6, I1 and I8 respectively. The side walls of zones I6, I1 and `I8may be formed by spaced ribs 28, 29, 38 and 3|, shown integral with the bottom I9 and projecting upwardly therefrom to form inv lets 32, 33 and 34 for zones I6, I1 and I8 respectively and circumferentially continuous upwardly projecting wall portions 35, 36, 31 and 38 having upper edges 39, 40, 4I and 42 contiguous to thev grate II. Zones I6,I1 and I8 are thus segregated from one another and have circumferential outlets 43, 44 and 45 formed by the perforations in the grate II.

From the flange 20 up to the line 23 ribs, 28, 29, 30 and 3| are also shown integral with the overlapping portion 46 of bottom I9. Adjacent the line 23 the lower face of portion 46 may be made parallel with the sloping portion 2| as illustrated at 41.

Any other suitable construction may be substituted. y

In operation fuel is fed by the Stroker mecha.- nism illustrated generally at I3 at any desired rate. The fuel is fed up through opening I2 onto the grate II. Ash is removed in the ordinary way.

. If a very low re is desired air is fed through inlet 34 only. This air is confined to zone I8 and is supplied to the layer of fuel contained lwithin the boundaries of outlet 45. Consequently substantially only that fuel lying within and above edge 4I will be consumed. The rate of combustion will be governed by the volume of air supplied through inlet 34 as will be obvious to persons skilled in the art.

In view of the small amount of fuel in the layer supplied by outlet 45 this layer may be burned at a lrelatively high temperature with the consumption of only a small amount of fuel. The formation of clinker will thus be avoided even though the fire is low.

vIf a hotter fire is desired air may also be'V supplied through the inlet 33 into Zone`I1. This opposite outlet 44. The fuel supplied with air by outlet 44 may be consumed at any desired rate by regulation of the air flowing into inlet 33. Combustion of this fuel will be completed as it passes over outlet 45. The percentage of combustion between edges 40 and 4I and between edges 4| and 42 may be regulated by regulating the air passing through inlets 33 and 34.

If a still hotter fire is desired than that afforded by zones I1 and I8 air will also be introduced through the inlet 32. This air will be supplied directly to the layer of fuel lying opposite outlet 43, and this fuel may be burned at any desired rate. Combustion of this fuel will be completed as it passes over outlets 44 and 45 and the percentage burned opposite each outlet is subject to regulation by regulation of the flow of air.

The air supplied to the zones may, of course, be regulated in any other manner and/or series of steps from a low to a hot fire or vice versa, inasmuch as my device affords maximum flexibility of operation. For instance, the reverse of the above procedure of supplying combustion supporting gas to `the fuel may be employed. The invention, therefore, covers broadly any method of operation.

Among the advantages afforded by the type of zoning disclosed herein is that of a control of the blowing of ash from the top of the fuel bed when the rate of combustion is high, for it is possible to supply air to the underlying layers of fuel at high rates and to the top layer at a low rate.

The term layer is used herein merely for convenience in description, for it will be understood that the fuel moving upwardly through the opening l2 will pass through each of the so-called layers in being consumed.

While a particular form of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that the fire lpot may have any other shape or construction; for instance, the zoned tuyre may not circumferentially enclose the fuel but may extend along one or more sides or it may be made so that additional rings may be added to afford additional zones. Any means may be employed for supplying the combustion supporting gas to inlets 32, 33 and 34. For instance, a single blower with a valve such as shown at 48, 49 and 50 for the inlets 32, 33 and 34 respectively would be suitable. Each valve might be controlled separately or in combination with one or more of the other valves, and such control might be manually by a member 5| or remotely, automatically, or otherwise. Other changes, additions, substitutions, omissions and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The claims herein are intended to be limited only as required by the prior art.

I claim:

1. The combination comprising an underfeed retort and tuyre structure having an annular upwardly and outwardly flaring perforated grate, a supporting member for said grate, said supporting member having a central fuel feed passage, a plurality of spaced upstanding walls contacting and supporting said grate and forming therebeneath a plurality of annular, radially spaced air chambers, and an air inlet divided into chambers, each of which communicates with one of said spaced air chambers, the innermost wall forming a continuation of the central feed passage and grate.

2. A tuyre fire pot structure comprising an annular upwardly and outwardly flaring perforated grate, a. base member for said fuel support having a central fuel feed passage, a plurality of spaced upstanding walls contacting and supporting the grate and forming therebeneath a plurality of'annular concentric spaced air chambers, an air inlet divided into chambers, each of which communicates with one of said spaced air chambers, and means for controlling the passage of air through said inlet, the innermost wall forming a continuation of the central feed passage and grate.

3. A fire pot tuyre structure comprising, an annular upwardly extending grate adapted to hold fuel, means for supplying fuel from beneath the center of said grate, a tuyre air supply chamber beneath and about the center of said grate for conducting combustion supporting gas to said fuel, said tuyre air chamber being structurally divided annularly into conveying chambers about the center of the grate, each of said air conveying chambers leading to said grate at different levels and adapted to conduct combustion supporting gas to said fuel separately from the other chambers, orifices in said grate communicating with each of said chambers, means for selectively regulating the flow through each of said chambers.

4. A fire pot tuyre structure comprising an annular grate having upwardly and outwardly inclined side walls adapted to hold fuel, a tuyre air chamber for conducting a combustion supporting gas to said grate, said tuyre air chamber being structurally divided into a plurality of separate conveying chambers arranged about and leading to said grate at different levels thereof, said grate being provided with separate orifices throughout substantially all of the side walls thereof, said orifices communicating with said chambers, each chamber being adapted tol conduct said combustion supporting gas directly to separate layers of said fuel through the chambers and the corresponding orifices in said grate in communication with each chamber.

5. A fire pot tuyre structure comprising an annular grate having upwardly and outwardly inclined walls adapted to hold fuel, a tuyre air chamber structurally divided into a plurality of separate and substantially concentric conveying air chambers arranged about and leading to said grate at different levels thereof, said grate having separate orifices therein throughout substantially all of the side walls thereof communieating with each of said chambers for conducting combustionl supporting gas tothe fuel through the corresponding orifices in said grate, and means for regulating the air flow therethrough and consequently through the corresponding orifices.

6. A tuyre fire pot structure comprising asubstantially circular annular inclined grate with perforations at different levels in the side walls thereof, a fuel feed passage located centrally'beneath said grate and communicating with the central portion thereof, a substantially circular enclosure structurally divided annularly into a plurality of substantially circular concentric conveying chambers about the walls of said grate communicating with different levels of said grate and perforations therein directly above said chambers, and an air inlet disposed tangentially with relation to said enclosure and tosaid grate whereby acentrifugal swirling movement of the air flow is induced as the air is entrapped in the enclosure.

7. A. tuyre fire potstructure comprising a substantially circular annular inclined grate with perforations at different levels in the side walls thereof, a fuel feed passage located centrally beneath said grate and communicating with the central portion thereof, an enclosure with a portion of its bottom, surface inclined and structurally divided annularly into a plurality of separate substantially circular concentric conveying chambers about the side Walls. of said grate communicating with different levels of said grate and the perforations. therein directly above said' chambers, and an air inlet positioned to discharge Ainto said chambers adjacent the inclined portion of said bottom surface and disposed tangentially With relation to s aid enclosure and to said grate whereby a centrifugal swirling move-A clined and arranged about the side walls of said grate andan air inlet positioned to discharge into the enclosure adjacent the inclined portionl of said bottom surface and disposed tangentially with relation to said grate and said enclosure,-

said enclosure and air inlet being correspondingly structurally .divided into separate registering conveying chambers leading to different levels of said perforated grate for communication therewith.

9. A tuyre fire pot structure comprising an annular grate perforated at different levels, a fuel feed passage located beneath said grate and communicating with the central portion thereof, a substantially circular enclosure having a portion of its bottom surface inclined and arranged concentrically about the side walls of said grate, and an air inlet positioned to discharge into the enclosure adjacent the inclined portion of said bottom` surface and disposed tangentially with relation to said grate and said enclosure, said enclosure and inlet being correspondingly struc- .turally divided into separate registering convey' ALLEN J. JOHNSON'. 

